Thursday, May 26, 2011

Narrative Assessments. . . what do I need to know?

The school year is coming to a close. You have read many wonderful books with your student, watched them solve many math problems, and walked through many history and science lessons together. You are ready for summer! You are now checking out the pool schedule, getting ready for summer reading at the library, and thinking what do I need to do to keep homeschooling in the state of Ohio? The last one may not be on the top of your list, but it would be nice to check it off your list. The following post is intended to help you check it off your list and get on with the joys of summer.

Ohio homeschool law states "The parent(s) shall send to the superintendent an academic assessment report of the child for the previous school year at the time of supplying subsequent notification." A parent in Ohio has three choices on what they may send a with their homeschool notification. 1). Results of a nationally normed, standardized achievement test. 2) A written narrative indicating that a portfolio of samples of the child’s work has been reviewed and that the child’s academic progress for the year is in accordance with the child’s abilities. (3) An alternative academic assessment of the child’s proficiency mutually agreed upon by the parent and the superintendent. (please note my understanding is that you would have needed to work this out with your superintendent last year when you sent in your homeschool notification.)

A written narrative is an option for an assessment report. You have a certified Ohio teacher review work samples of your student's work to determine if you child has made progress in accordance with his/her ability last year. The assessor then signs a form verifying that your student has made progress, and you send that form to your school's superintendent along with your intent to homeschool the coming year.

I am a homeschool mom who is also a certified Ohio teacher. I am able to review your child's work samples, send you some encouraging notes, and send you the forms you need to send to your school district with your intent to home educate. I enjoy reviewing work samples and love getting a chance to see the many different ways people home educate their children. The following are a few common questions I hear in regards to narratives.

What if my student is not reading?
You may send me a list of books you have read aloud to your student, maybe the progress they have made in a phonics program, and/or how many sight words that they know now as compared to the beginning of the year.

What if I do not have physical samples that are easy to send to you?
You are welcome to take a picture,send me a link to a YouTube video, or write up what your student learned in that area. I have enjoyed power point presentations, pictures of field trips and community gardens, and wonderfully written explanations about unit studies and cooking projects. If you have questions on how to communicate what your student accomplished, please contact me. ohiohomeschool@gmail.com

What are you looking for?
I am looking for progress. I like to see that your student is completing more complex math problems than he/she did at the beginning of the year, I look at handwriting and writing samples to observe growth, and learn a great deal about your student from looking at the books they are reading now as compared to the ones they read in beginning of the year. I look at how your student has changed. I do not look to see if you completely finished your history text book, made at least one salt relief map of a continent, and/or if your bookshelves are organized by the Dewey Decimal system. I am looking for progress in your student by viewing his/her work samples. (But, if your bookshelves are organized that way I would love to see a picture and know how you did it. )

I want to support you on your home education journey. I greatly enjoy helping other homeschool moms. Let me know if I can help you this year! Click here for how to get started.